Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Shallow End of the Pool

There isn’t a public pool in St. Louis City. Let me repeat
that: There isn’t a single public body of water, outside of the Mississippi
river, where a resident of St. Louis can swim*. Even worse, no resident of St.
Louis City can pay to go to any of the public pools in the surrounding
counties. Maplewood? Nope. Clayton? God forbid. Jefferson City? To be fair,
it’s a bit of a drive.

St. Louis City residents have to pay a 1% earnings tax. You
know what that supports? Forest Park. You know who gets to use the Zoo, the Art
Museum, the History Museum and a lot of the amenities for free? City residents
AND county residents.

You probably think I am about to suggest that the City
should start charging County residents a fee. Nonsense.

But I am proposing that the County get over itself; its
sewage facilities smell just like the City’s**. And there are too many
redundant utilities and commissions and services in this region as it is.

The City and the County both have something to offer each
other. It’s time to stop being petty and start getting sweaty … together.
Preferably poolside.

*I have seen people splashing around at the City Garden
fountains, but that’s not the same thing.